Suction cleaner nozzle



June 6, 1950\ E. H. YONKERS, JR 7 SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE Filed March 6, 1946 z/m/A/ Maya;

Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a suction cleaner nozzle and particularly to a nozzle useful on rugs, carpets or the like. The nozzle herein is an improvement upon that disclosed and claimed in my Patent 2,296,077, granted September 15, 1942. Like the patented nozzle, the nozzle herein may be used either with, or without, a brush near the suction opening.

As pointed out in my patent, cleaning of rugs,

carpets or textile material by suction involves two extreme conditions which must be provided for. In one condition, deep cleaning requires that air be pulled through the rug or carpet into the suction nozzle, and thus rem'ove deeply-embedded dust or dirt. The other condition involves surface cleaning wherein lint, pieces of paper and the like resting on top of the carpet or rug are to be removed therefrom. Both types of cleaning involve different operating conditions and, thus, may normally require different suction nozzles. The nozzle disclosed and claimed in the patent previously referred to provides both types of cleaning. Thus, for deep cleaning, it is essential that the nozzle opening be pressed against the carpet surface so that air will be pulled up through the textile material. For surface cleaning, it is essential that the nozzle'or portion thereof be raised a short distance above the textile surface to provide a clearance for a surface layer or air. It is essential, however, that this clearance be relatively small so that maximum suction efiect may be exerted along the textile surface.

The invention disclosed herein improves upon the nozzle previously patented in that means are provided for maintaining the selected nozzle operating condition. By virtue of the invention herein, the nozzle may operate for deep clean ing when moved in one direction and operate for surface cleaning when moved in the reverse direction, and such operating conditions are maintained in spite of such variables as the height of the operator and manner of holding the actuating handle.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a spring biased flexible coupling means between two parts of the suction nozzle as a whole whereby the nozzle may adjust itself to a desired operating condition. The nozzle disclosed herein is adapted for use with any cleaner, though particularly adapted for use with the so-called tank type cleaner, wherein the suction-generating and dirt-retaining means are connected to the nozzle through a hollow handle and flexible hose. Thus, the suction nozzle may be used with any of the suction cleaners disclosed and claimed in my Patents 2,198,568, 2,242,277 and 2,242, 278.

The features of my invention which are believed to be novel are particularly set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with the advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the description following herein taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a top plan view looking down upon a suction nozzle embodyingthe invention. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the suction nozzle of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a, side elevation of the nozzle in a deepcleaning position along line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side elevation along line 3--3 of Figure 1 of the nozzle in a surface-cleaning position. Figure 5 is a perspective fragmentary showing of the brush and spring biasing means.

Nozzle body It has inlet opening bounded by front edge I2, rear edge I3 and sides I and I5 respectively. The inlet may have a generally rectangular outline. It will be noted that front edge i2 is rounded to provide a curved bottom surface. The curvature is with reference to a line transverse to the entire nozzle; i. e. generally parallel to edge |2.

Nozzle body It may be formed of any suitable metal or plastic and defines air and dirt channel H and two collateral air and dirt channels l6 and i1. Nozzle body it! is so formed as to provide bosses l8 and is aligned transversely of the entire nozzle structure and defining channels l6 and ii respectively. Bosses l8 and 9 are machined or finished to provide hollow trunnion bearings and communicate with the air and dirt passage previously described. Pivotally secured in bosses I3 and I9 is fixture 2|. Fixture 2| is hollow and communicates with channels l6 and I1 forming the interior of bosses l8 and I9. Rubber sleeves 22 and 23 may be provided at the joints between fixture 2| and the two bosses to prevent leakage of air. Fixture 2| is provided with pipe couplin 25 forming a discharge for the nozzle. Coupling 25 may have attached thereto the customary hollow handle or hose.

Nozzle body II! has chamber 21 of the structure which is isolated from the normal air and dirt path within the nozzle. Chamber 2'! of the housing has eccentric roller 28 pivotally secured at sides M and I5. Eccentric roller 28 carries pin 29 at each end thereof, said pin cooperating with parts so and 3! of nozzle sides l4 and IE to limit roller movement. Roller 28 is designed so that, upon forward movement of the nozzle along a carpet, roller 28 will turn counter-clockwise to one end position, as seen in Figure 3, and drop the nozzle structure around front edge l2. Upon rearward movement of the nozzle, as shown in Figure 4, roller 28 turns clockwise to its other end position and raises the rear portion of the nozzle structure with respect to front edge l2. Eccentric roller 28 is limited to about 180 degrees of travel. As clearly indicated in Figure 4, the rise of the nozzle structure is such as to'provide a slight clearance between side [3 and the surface to be cleaned. Thus, air may move along the surface under side I3 into intake region H.

Roller 28 preferably extends a substantial portion of the width of the entire nozzle and thus provides a large area against which the surface to. be cleaned may act. Thus, the function will begreat enough to operate the eccentric roller. It is preferred to provide some spring bias between fixture 21 and the rest of the nozzle structxuze tending to seat inlet H down against the surface to be cleaned. To this end, spring 33 has part Mrigidly attached to fixture 2|. Spring 33 has end 8,5 hearing against nozzle body Ill. Spring 33 isarranged to bias fixture 2I' to the position Shown in Figure 2. This position may correspond tothelowest possible handle position. Any moving of fixture 2! upwardly away from the floor, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, will result in a firm seating of nozzle edge .2 on the surface to be cleaned. Stop 35 on fixture 2| may be provided tolimit-theupward travel of fixture 2|.

While the suction cleaner nozzle attachment thusfar described may be used with advantageoussresults, it'is preferred to provide a brush. To this end,'long straight brush 4!.) of usual construction maybe disposed on rod All having bent arms 42 and (it and pivot tips 44 and 45. As clearly indicated in the drawing, pivot tips M and-'45 are mounted in the opposing sides l4 and l -of the nozzle body in chamber 2 The mounting. is such that brush 49 extends transversely of the nozzle body in front of eccentric roller 28. Bent stop arm 4? rigidly attached at 48 to the nozzle body is provided to limit the downward lll ernent of brush illon its pivots. Spring 49 is provided to bias the brushagainst stop arm 4,; but permitting brush movement upwardly. BrushM! itself is pivotally mounted on rod 4! and isbiased by spring 55 toward eccentric roller 28. Thus, .springsASand 5i tend to maintain brush 40in the position shownin Figure 4. Upon forward movement of the nozzle body, eccentric roller .28 drops the nozzle body to the position shown in Figure 3 and the carpet or other surface being cleaned engages the brush tips as shown. The brush is rocked downwardly, and the 'brush tips are firmly pressed against the surface being cleaned. Upon rearward movement, nozzle edge l3 clears the floor surface. Brush All assumes its normal position and clears the floor surface. The clearance of the brush tips-may be made as great as desired.

. Itis evident that the entire structureis simple and ,foolproof. The nozzle will assumethe positionshown in Figures 3 and 4 irrespective of operator variations in height or manner of holding. A sprin bias between the fixture and nozzle body urges the body downwardly against the floor during cleaning so that the nozzle positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 are always definitely assumed when the nozzle is moved in the proper directions.

Thus, highly efficient cleaning will result. It will be understood that the nozzle as a whole is normally moved along a line perpendicular to front surface 52, the forward direction being such that edge l2 leads.

Vfhat is claimed is:

1. A suction cleaner nozzle comprising a nozzle body having an elongated intake opening transverse to the line of nozzle travel on a floor during cleaning, said opening having edges formed by body portions lying in a fiat plane, a long roller eccentrically supported on said nozzle body rearwardly of said inlet and extending transversely for substantially the nozzle width and forming .a surface providing a transverse region of support on said floor for said body, means for limiting the rotation of said roller to substantially degrees, said roller and floor cooperatingduring nozzle movement to raise or lower said nozzle body depending upon the direction of nozzle travel, a fixture having a discharge QDen-ing, said-fixturebeing carried by said-nozzle body for receiving air from said nozzle *body and discharging the'same into a suction cleanerand means for mountingsaid fixture so that'ityis movable with respect to said nozzle body only'in averticalpl-ane, said fixture having its discharge Opening formed to function as part of -a pipe coupling for cooperation with a tubular handle to be-usedby an operator'for manipulating said nozzle and said nozzleunder normal conditions of usebeing supported onsaid floor by said roller and one transverse inlet-edge in all positions and being movable by the action of said eccentric roller to pivot said'nozzle. at all times about said one transverse edge andto move the-other transverse edge to-or from the-floor :and maintainsaid nozzle'opening in aposition' for deep or surface cleaning.

.2. The structure according to claim l-wherein the front edge-is always on the floorand wherein abrush isdisposed between the roller and-rear edge ofthe opening.

3. A'suction cleaner nozzle comprisinganozzle bodyhavingan elongated intake opening transverseto the line of nozzle'travel on a fioor during cleaning, said opening having edges formed by body portions lying in a fiat plane, a long roller. eccentrically'supported onsaid nozzle body rearwardly of said "inlet and extending transversely forming a surface providing a transverse region of support on said floor for said body, means for limiting the rotation of said roller to substantially 180 degrees, said roller and fioor cooperating during nozzle movement to raise or lower said nozzlebody depending upon the-directionof nozzle traveha fixture having-a discharge-opening carried by said nozzle body for receivingair from said nozzle'bodyand discharging the same into asuction cleaner, means for mounting said-fixture so that it is movable with respect to said nozzle body-only in a vertical plane and means for biasingsaid fixture relative tosaid nozzle body -to---urge said fixture toward. thcrfloor when said ,nozzle rests on the floor. and from which :position said fixture ismoved against: its-bias by an operator during cleaning whereby. said nozzle ispositionedlat: all times so that a:-

transverse edge of the intake opening always engages the floor surface during cleaning irrespective of the height or position of the operator, said nozzle body being tilted with respect to said edge to move the intake opening for surface or deep cleaning respectively when the direction of nozzle travel is changed.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein a brush is disposed between the roller and rear edge of the opening.

5. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said eccentric roller is adapted to raise the rear edge of the opening upon forward movement of the nozzle and to drop said rear edge upon backward movement of the nozzle.

EDWARD H. YONKERS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number *6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Whitehouse Dec. 14, 1909 Leathers Dec. 5, 1933 Leathers Nov. 10, 1936 Lang Oct. 31, 1939 Ellis May 19, 1942 Leathers June 16, 1942 Yonkers Sept. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date England 1923 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,510,270 June 6, 1950 EDWARD H. YONKERS, JR.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 30, for the words layer or read layer of; column 3, line 26, for function read friction;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of August, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

